City News : Mole Reportedly Helped Police Thwart Alleged Ont. Terror Plot

Mole Reportedly Helped Police Thwart Alleged Ont. Terror Plot

October 14, 2006

New details about the alleged Ontario terror plot uncovered by police this summer have emerged.

According to a recent report, a young agricultural engineer was a key part of the investigation to foil the alleged plot to blow up targets around the GTA and the province, including the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) building downtown.

The man, reportedly from an affluent Toronto family of Egyptian background, became a mole for Canadian authorities because he wanted to prevent a tragedy involving civilians. He's now in a witness protection program and can't be named, according to the report.

The mole, said to be in his 20s, apparently provided evidence to police that the suspects had acquired material he thought could be used to make explosives.

Seventeen suspects - 12 men and five youths - were arrested in early June and charged with offences involving firearms, terrorist training and bombing plots. An 18th suspect was arrested two months later.

Authorities allege the group planned to use ammonium nitrate, a common fertilizer, to make bombs. The RCMP has accused the suspects of purchasing three tonnes of the substance - three times the amount used in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

Many of the suspects have since been granted bail and others have been remanded in custody awaiting trial.

Another informant stepped forward in July claiming he was involved in the operation. Mubin Shaikh said he told police about the alleged terror group and claimed he later worked undercover in the police investigation.